US using wild west methods to divert German medical orders: Berlin’s top security official

Masks are displayed at a general store during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, Germany, on April 3, 2020. (Photo by Reuters)

Berlin’s top security official has accused Washington of using “wild west methods” to divert and obtain a delivery of face masks originally destined for the German capital.

Berlin State Interior Minister Andreas Geisel denounced the diversion of the masks as an “act of modern piracy,” Reuters reported on Friday.

The reported added that German media had reported that thousands of masks purchased from manufacturer 3M had been diverted to the US as they were being transferred between planes in Thailand en route from China.

German officials have confirmed that about 200,000 FFP2 masks — an equivalent of the US N95 mask standard — were seized at a Bangkok airport and did not reach their destined location.

The officials said that the masks had already been paid for by Germany.

“This is no way to treat trans-Atlantic partners,” Geisel said in his remarks addressing Washington on Friday. “Even in times of global crisis, there should be no wild west methods.”

The Berlin official added that the German government should demand that the US respect international rules.

Reuters said the US Embassy in Berlin did not immediately provide any comment on the matter.